Device for preventing the ignition of pressure-reducing valves.



A. B. DRKGER. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE IGNITION 0F PRESSURE REDUCINGVALVES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1910.

970,024. Patented Sept13,1910.

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ALEXANDER BERNI-IARD DRAGER, 0F LI'iBEcK, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE IGNITION OF PRESSURE-REDUCING VALVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Application filed May 23, 1910. Serial No. 562,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALExAnDEn BERN- HARD DRlieER, a subject of theGerman Emperor, and resident of Ltibeck, Germany, have invented acertain new and useful Device for Preventing the Ignition of Pressure-Reducing Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved device for preventing theignition of the valve plate of vulcanite or the like in pressurereducing or similar valves for compressed gases, such as oxygen.

According to the present invention the object aimed at is attained bywithdrawing or absorbing the heat produced by the sudden COIIIPI'QSSlOllof the gas (air or a mixture of air and oxygen), contained in the gaspassage between the usual screw plug of the gas or oxygen cylinder andthe valve plate of the pressure reducing valve, by the pressure gasrushing out of the gas cylinder on opening the screw plug valve of thelatter.

The invention of neut'alizing the produced heat consists in arranging ormount-- .ing in the gas passage through which the pressure gas passesinto the pressure reducing valve, preferably in the neighborhood of thevalve plate of the pressure reducing valve, a cooling body of a suitablemass or material adapted to absorb heat and having as great a surfacearea as possible.

In the accom 'ianying drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of theusual arrangement without a heat absorbing body in the gas passage. Fig.2 is a sectional elevation of the novel arrangement with a heatabsorbing body in the gas .passage. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are partialsectional views illustrating three modifications. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9are partial cross sectional views of the Figs. 2, 3, i and 5correspondingly. F 10 is a partial sectional view of a still furthermodification. The valves in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown in opened positionand only so much of the gas cylinder and pressure reducing valve isshown as is necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

Similar letters of reference refer to simi' lar parts throughout thefigures.

In Fig. l f designates a gas cylinder fitted with the usual screw plugvalve 9 from which the gas can pass out through the gas passage 1) theoutlet end of which is controlled by a pressure reducing valve body alhaving a valve part (l of vulcanite or like inflammable material,mounted in one end of a controlling lever cl which is pivoted in abracket 0 of the pressure reducing valve casing c screwed on the gasdischarge conduit b.

If the valve g be opened suddenly, the highly compressed oxygen rushesinto the spaces a and b and acting as a piston without mixing with thegaseous contents of these spaces, compresses these gaseous contents ofordinary temperature and atmospheric pressure suddenly and considerablyat the farthest end of the passage that is to say at the very spot wherethe inflammable plate (1 is situated, so that a very great heat isproduced and concentrated siuldenly in the extremely small spaceaforesaid. N ow this increase in temperature which causes or producesthe ignition of the plate d, can be neutralized by absorbing orwithdrztwing the heat by means of a suitable cooling body inserted intothe gas passage 1). According to the example shown in Figs. 2 and (3 thecooling body consists of a strip of wiregauze i loosely wound up arounditself and placed into the passage b. The cooling body 71 has to answera double purpose. In the first place the great superficial area of massof the body '5 shall give the possibility, that the heated gas pressedthrough the free spaces or channels of the body 5 and contacting thelatter meets with a great number of cooling surfaces, secondly the bulkor weight of the cooling body shall produce the possibility that theamount of heat present in the heated gas (air or oxygen) increases butslightly the temperature of the mass of the cooling body. \Vhen electingthe material of the cooling body the materials being good heatconductors must be preferred.

In the modification shown by Figs. 3 and 7 the cooling body is composedof a series of perforated disks or sieve plates 2' laced injuxtaposition some distance apart.

In the modification disclosed by Figs. l and 8 the cooling body consistsof a fagot of thin rods or sticks '5 and in the modili cationillustrated in Figs. 5 and 9 the cooling body consists of a cartridgelike block 2' provided with a plurality of longitudinal perforations orchannels.

As the ignition of the valve plate (Z starts from the center or middlepart of this plate it will be sufiicient to protect this place of theplate against the attack of the heated gas. This may be effected in themanner shown by Fig. 10 by perforating the plate (Z and insertingtherein a cooling body, for example, a metal pin i or the like.

As many changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of thecooling body Without involving a departure from the spirit of myinvention, I would have it understood, that I do not limit myself to theexact constructions shown and described, but consider myself at libertyto make such changes and alterations as fall Within the scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a heat absorbing and gas sub-dividing devicemounted in said outlet passage.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a foraminous body mounted in said outletpassage.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a foraminous heat absorbing body mounted insaid outlet passage.

4;. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure re\ ducingvalve controlling the latter, of a strip of Wire gauze mounted in saidoutlet 40 passage.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a spiral strip of wire gauze mounted in saidpassage.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a heat absorbing and gas subdividing devicemounted -in said outlet passage, and a cooling member mounted in thevalve.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination With apressure chamber having an outlet passage and a pressure reducing valvecontrolling the latter, of a heat absorbing and gas subdividing devicemounted in said outlet passage and a metallic pin mounted in the valve.

ALEXANDER BERNHARD DRKGER.

Witnesses J oHs VVULF, JAooB BILLFELDS.

